Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder that causes patients to suffer from continuous epileptic seizures. During epileptic seizures, the brain function is altered and you may experience a range of different symptoms.

Epilepsy is a complex condition that should be diagnosed by a neurologist. There are a variety of types of seizures, symptoms and causes of epilepsy. As an experienced pediatric neurologist, Dr. Latimer is experienced in accurately diagnosing and treating this condition. She has worked with several organizations to research and conduct studies on epilepsy.

In many cases, the cause of a patient’s epilepsy is not clear. Some of the more well-known contributors to epilepsy include:

Brain tumors

Trauma

Infection

Stroke

Congenital abnormalities

At our office, we work to find the cause of your epilepsy in order to come up with the most effective treatment plan possible. We review your medical history, conduct a neurological evaluation, and ask questions in order to get a clear picture of your symptoms, diagnose whether you are having non-epileptic or epileptic seizures, and identify possible causes of your epilepsy.

Symptoms of Epilepsy

Epileptic seizures can lead to changes in any process that your brain controls. Some common symptoms include:

Confusion

Blank staring

Unconsciousness

Twitching of your arms or legs

You should seek medical attention if:

Your seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes

You seizures while pregnant

You have diabetes

You are injured during a seizure

You have issues breathing or lose consciousness following the seizure

Seizures are not to be taken lightly, and we urge you to call the Latimer Neurology Center for an appointment if you experience one, so that we can properly evaluate and diagnose you.

Epilepsy Treatment

In many cases, patients receive anti-epileptic medication to stop the occurrence of seizures, or reduce the frequency and intensity of them. When determining the treatment for epilepsy, we take into account your health, the type of epilepsy you have (general or focused), your medical history, and other information that will help us determine the type and dosage of medication for you.
With effective treatment, many patients are eventually able to live without medication and stop experiencing seizures. We will work with you or your child to treat your condition and get you back to living a normal healthy life, without being constantly concerned about seizures. Call us at (202) 625-4898 for an appointment.